Especially because I live on a Caribbean island where the first thing you see when you step off the plane is a small stand selling flavoured local Cruzan rum.
Rum is the drink of choice here, whether it’s morning or night. Ask good ol’ Captain Jack for evidence.
The Caribbean’s idyllic daydream normally involves sitting on the beach while listening to the waves and sipping a Pina Colada.
So, how does that work while you’re on vacation and want to relax with a great massage while still spending time by the pool sipping frozen drinks?
To begin, you must understand how alcohol and massage affect the body in different ways
To comprehend the effects of alcohol, we must first comprehend how the human body absorbs it. When you first start drinking, a small amount of alcohol is consumed in your stomach before going on to the small intestine, Since the body perceives alcohol as a drug, it attempts to break it down using enzymes from the liver into acetaldehyde, a poisonous product. This is thought to be the cause of the hangover the next day, according to experts. The body then breaks down the acetaldehyde into water, carbon dioxide, and fatty acids, all of which are beneficial to the body.
The issue arises when you drink more alcohol than your body can handle. Then you start to experience the symptoms of alcohol that you’re used to. Alcohol has the potential to create havoc with your neurotransmitters, which is why this occurs.
Excitatory hormones like glutamate are reduced, which gives you more energy and aids brain function. At the same time, an increase in GABA (gamma-aminobutric acid) neurotransmitters is produced, which acts as a depressant. Its aim is to slow down the brain’s functions and interactions, which results in impaired judgement, reduced motor skills, and increased risk-taking.
Even though drinking seems to give you an extra boost of energy and confidence, it actually slows down all of the brain’s processes, and therefore all of the body’s functions. That’s why it’s crucial not to combine other depressants with alcohol, as the result can cause the body’s heart rate and breathing to slow to dangerously low levels.
Alcohol can be deceiving. Since alcohol also causes high levels of dopamine, it tricks you into believing you can take on the world after just a few drinks ( the happy drug). You believe you feel good because of the infusion of dopamine, so you drink more to keep getting the dopamine rush. The only issue is that by drinking more, you’re altering other brain chemicals that serve as a depressant or sedative on the body. The dopamine effect reduces over time as you drink more, until it’s almost non-existent, but by that time, you’ve probably developed a dependence or addiction.
Massage, on the other hand, has a distinct impact on the human body. Massage will relax the central nervous system and cause a parasympathetic state, which helps the body to rest and recover, as we’ve discussed in previous posts.
Massage has an effect on the brain’s neurotransmitters as well. Massage lowers stress hormone cortisol levels as well as other inflammatory hormones. Endorphins are also released by the body.
Endorphins make you happy, and happy people don’t kill people,” Elle Woods said. They also aid in the natural relief of pain in the body without the use of NSAIDS.
During massage, serotonin and dopamine are released, resulting in a relaxed and pleasant feeling. It gives you the same buzz as a few beers, but without the unpleasant side effects. What’s even better? The effect lasts longer every time you get a massage, as opposed to the decrease that occurs with continued drinking.
Not only are the muscles stretched and comfortable, but you’re also increasing blood flow and nutrients to them, which helps with rapid recovery, energy reserves, and injury prevention. When massage and alcohol are combined, the dilemma is that alcohol tends to store in the muscles, while massage stimulates blood flow and relaxes muscles, making it a perfect candidate for making you feel bad the next day. Keep in mind the importance of massage for the cardiovascular system!
Drinking immediately after a massage ensures that those newly relaxed muscles can feel all of the acetaldehyde toxin’s effects the next day, particularly if you become inebriated.
Unfortunately, drinking alcohol will reduce the therapeutic benefits of massage.
So, when will you be able to drink
The reason for this is that your body is always trying to break down the acetaldehyde into less dangerous compounds that it can use. Getting a massage would simply push certain poisonous substances around your body, causing more pain and inflammation than relief.
What happens after your massage? Ok, it is entirely up to you
Drinking appears to be part of the culture where I live, particularly because tourism accounts for a large portion of my clientele. A client will come in for a morning massage and request a cocktail to accompany their lunch.Keep in mind that massage’s effects will last anywhere from 12 to 24 hours, and drinking can reduce the massage’s effectiveness. At the same time, drinking after a massage would not get you drunker or make you feel better.
However, since you are more relaxed and your muscles are loose, you are more likely to sustain an injury if you lose control of your motor functions. If you slip and bust your butt after receiving a massage, it will hurt even more.
As a general rule, if you want to drink after your massage, make every effort to remain hydrated.
My general rule of thumb is to drink a large glass of water before beginning to consume alcohol, and then another glass of water in between drinks.
